LORDE STUNS AT THE SCHOTTENSTEIN
STORY AND PHOTO BY CAMI SEYMORE
Lorde’s “Ultrasound Tour” was more than a concert — it felt like performance art.
Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, better known as Lorde, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter known for hits like “Royals,” “Team,” and “Supercut.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, she took the stage at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio — her first tour since 2022.
The night began with opening acts from Chanel Beads and The Japanese House. While Chanel Beads showcased strong vocals, the set fell flat. The band performed entirely in the dark, barely visible to the audience. Their set seemed like a failed artistic vision that instead came across as lifeless.
On the other hand, The Japanese House delivered a solid performance, with stunning visuals and vocals. The crowd immersed themselves in the music, singing along and even putting up their flashlights during parts of the set.
However, the show really began when Lorde took the stage. The audience erupted with applause — the energy in the room was palpable as the strobe lights blared and the beginning notes of “Hammer” ricocheted through the arena.
Lorde started off with some of her newer songs, including “Broken Glass,” “Favourite Daughter,” and "Shapeshifter.” She also played some older crowd favorites like “Royals,” “Perfect Places,” and “Buzzcut Season.”
Lorde proves she’s not just an extraordinary lyricist but also an incredible vocalist and performer. Her stage presence is magnetic; with every jump, spin, and dance move, she amplifies the emotional weight of her songs and pulls the audience deeper into her album’s world.
As the setlist became more intimate, so did Lorde. During “Current Affairs,” she stripped down to just her Calvin Klein underwear. Later, she changed into her iconic Duct Tape bra, featured in the “Man of the Year” music video.
Lorde herself was the performance. With only a handful of backup dancers, she commanded the stage through striking visuals and physical displays. From acrobatic stunts, to one dancer casually eating an apple mid-set, to even running on a treadmill during “Supercut,” every moment felt deliberate and theatrical.
Midway through the show, she slowed the pace with a softer stretch of songs. Only two tracks from “Solar Power” made the setlist: “Oceanic Feeling” and “Big Star.” While “Oceanic Feeling” was a moving tribute to her New Zealand roots, “Big Star” felt like an odd choice when more recognizable tracks like “Mood Ring,” “The Path,” or even the album’s title track could have taken its place.
Another unexpected addition was “Writer in the Dark,” a song she rarely performs live. Delivered with raw emotion, it was one of the most hauntingly beautiful moments of the night.
She followed it with “Clearblue,” an unaccompanied performance that left the arena in awe of her stunning acapella vocals.
Lorde closed the night with a powerhouse run of “Man of the Year,” “If She Could See Me Now,” “Team,” “What Was That,” and “Green Light,” each delivered with electrifying energy, with the exception of a moment when she briefly got stuck on her above-ground platform in between songs.
Still, the true highlight of the night was “David.” Dressed in a glowing, light-up jacket, Lorde wove her way through the pit, clasping hands with fans as she walked — it was almost spiritual.
For the encore, she reappeared on a small b-stage to perform “Ribs,” her coming-of-age anthem. The audience sang their hearts out — it was an intense wave of nostalgia and longing that turned the performance into something incredibly intimate yet energetic.
Lorde’s “Ultrasound Tour” was strange, playful, and breathtaking. It was an unforgettable finale to a life-altering performance.
